You could tell she didn't want to be there during the audition. Also, he should've gotten points off for singing "A Change is gonna come" (Ditto for Matteus at the end of the show) as that song has been done to death on Idol.

It's about him. That was telling. We commented on that at the time. And on the discomfort of the little girl.

The producers should have been more suspicious. Do some investigation. It's too obvious that sob stories give you a boost. Why wouldn't these hard-up young people -- some predictable percentage -- lie?

There are too many Prima Donnas who have no business trying out for a singing competition (such as the two brothers from San Antonio). It's like no one ever tells people they suck at singing. I also didn't like in the audition rounds when they sent the parents in so they could thank the judges through mascara-smearing tears for sending their baby through. I'm remembering specifically the girl in recovery from anorexia -- was her name Mariah? Anyway, yes her voice was good, and maybe she deserves a Golden Ticket (although so early in recovery? Bad idea IMO), but I don't need to see her whole family shrieking about it.

Now that we're moving to Hollywood Week, at least the quality of singing should increase, unless they've sent a bunch of Tatiana Del Toros there, but it didn't seem that way. I mean, they didn't send the one-legged cancer survivor with a moderately good voice. He'd've been in Hollywood so fast if JLo and Steven Tyler were still judging.

It's win win for American Idol. Notoriety attracts more viewers than fame. The military hero overcomes and prospers or the lying con man gets found out. Either way you have a satisfying morality play.....I think a few serial killers or rapists would add a lot of tension and drama to the show. They should have a Folsom American Idol.

I've always felt that the glory of having served my country is something I must carry around in my own heart. It's not a thing that needs sharing, or to put it another way, the act of bragging about it diminishes its value. I'm not ashamed of it, but it feels wrong to think I expect some special recognition for simply having done my duty for my country. Especially since I'm alive and so many others aren't.

A weird story that reveals a guy who was very involved in crafting his own lies...for his own preservation. He got drunk in Iraq, as a soldier,in a theater of War where it is prohibited (Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan). He was prosecutable under the UCMJ [General Order No. 1 for the theater] and he knew it...so he began the concoction of stories while still on Evac in Germany to avoid being sent back to his unit in Iraq where he would have faced discipline. Even potential court martial.

I'm with Levi Starks, here. One thing that always makes me mentally (and often physically) cringe these days is the habit of virtually everyone from the media on down calling anyone who served in the service overseas in any capacity whatsoever American "heroes" for simply doing their duty. Just demonstrates how preverted our values have become and how rare is the act of service to country when the mere act of volunteering to serve in the armed forces is seen as "heroic" rather than simply answering the call of "duty."

The producers should have been more suspicious. Do some investigation. It's too obvious that sob stories give you a boost. Why wouldn't these hard-up young people -- some predictable percentage -- lie?

Investigation??? That's not their job! Hell, the programs that call themselves news shows typically don't do a very good job at that, and you expect an entertainment show to investigate this?

BTW... I hear next week they are going to have Ronaiah Tuiasosopo singing "I've Got A Crush On You" in his girl voice!